The American League batting race is that tight. Tighter than the American League Central race, definitely, and tighter than the AL wild card chase, too.

So tight that as the weekend series between the Detroit Tigers and Seattle began Friday night, Magglio Ordonez and Ichiro Suzuki were both hitting .352. Ordonez has led the race for most of the second half of the season and he led by percentage points (.35249 to .35182) entering the weekend.

Ordonez could become the Tigers' first batting champ in 46 years, but he would rather not talk about it.

"We'll see on the last day of the season," he said. "We're in a pennant race, and I don't want to worry about (the batting race). I want to help my team win. That's what I'm here for."

Ordonez is a career .310 hitter, but he has never finished higher than fifth in the batting race. Ichiro is a two-time batting champ (2001 and 2004).

"Ichiro hits .350 every year," said Guillen, exaggerating only slightly. "He hits good in September, but Magglio hits good in September, too."

Ordonez hit .340 in September 2006, and he is a career .300 hitter for the month. Ichiro is a career .323 hitter in September.

So who is going to win?

"I don't know," Guillen said. "Maybe Poli."

That would be Placido Polanco. Going into the weekend, Polanco was batting .340, good for third place.

TIGERS NOTES Jurrjens set for return: Kenny Rogers came back from the disabled list Wednesday, and he gave the Tigers a boost. Gary Sheffield returned Thursday, and he should give the Tigers a boost. Next off the DL will be right-hander Jair Jurrjens, who has a full bullpen scheduled for today. If all goes well, Jurrjens will start the second game of Tuesday's day-night doubleheader against Texas.

Manager Jim Leyland said it's unlikely that Jurrjens would remain in the rotation after Tuesday, because he'd prefer to stick with Chad Durbin in the fifth spot. Durbin will start the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader.

New record: The Tigers announced Friday that they will top 3 million in attendance this year, for the first time in franchise history.

No need to stay up late: The tarp was on the field Friday afternoon and rain was in the forecast, but even Mr. 3:30 a.m. didn't want another all-night marathon at Comerica Park. "I don't think we're going to stay until 3:30 again," said Guillen whose late-night home run beat the Yankees two weeks ago. "We don't want to play until 3:30 in the morning again."

Coin flips: The Tigers went 1-for-2 in coin flips Friday, so while a one-game playoff against Seattle would be at Comerica Park on Oct. 1, a one-game playoff against New York would be at Yankee Stadium that day.

Sense of humor: Sean Casey, who has two stolen bases this year, was distributing T-shirts with "Speed Kills; Casey Inc." across the front.

Facing Halladay:The Tigers weren't lucky with pitching matchups. Roy Halladay is scheduled to start for Toronto in Monday's makeup game at Comerica, which means he won't start in the Blue Jays' series against New York. Halladay is 11-2 in his career against the Tigers. The Jays have won six of his past seven starts against the Yankees.

One step forward: When Cleveland lost late Thursday night in Anaheim, the Tigers gained ground on the Indians for the first time in 13 days.

More help: Triple-A Toledo was facing elimination from the International League playoffs in Game 3 Friday night. When the Mud Hens season ends, the Tigers could call up a third catcher, and possibly one of two left-handed relievers -- either Clay Rapada or Macay McBride.